SOLAR WIND, INCOMING: Another stream of solar wind is approaching Earth. The source: A northern hole in the sun's atmosphere. The gaseous material is expected to brush Earth's magnetic field on Sept. 1st and 2nd, potentially sparking Arctic auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
MINOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM: On August 28th, for only the 2nd time in 2020, Earth experienced a geomagnetic storm. The minor G1-class disturbance broke out when a stream of solar wind hit Earth's magnetic field at 500 km/s. "I got to see my first Northern Lights for this season," reports Göran Strand, who sends this picture from Östersund, Sweden:
"After a long summer, it felt really great to be back under a dark starry night sky with bright auroras dancing overhead," he says. "Aurora season has begun!"
During a geomagnetic storm, Earth's magnetic field vibrates. Stuart Green detected the rumbles in Preston, Lancashire, UK. "After weeks of relative calm it was exciting to see some geomagnetic activity on my magnetometer here in the UK," he says. The biggest excursions correspond to aurora outbursts in the Arctic:
"It was only a minor G1 storm," says Green, "but very welcome during Solar Minimum."
During Solar Maximum, Earth experiences 50 to 100 such storms a year. This year we have experienced only 2. (The first geomagnetic storm of 2020, also category G1, happened on April 20th when a CME hit Earth's magnetic field.) Fortunately for auroraphiles, Solar Cycle 25 is coming to life. The third geomagnetic storm of 2020 could be just around the corner. Stay tuned.
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STERLING SILVER MOONSTONE PENDANT: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Nothing says "I love you" like a moonstone from the edge of space. On Jan 27th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew this moonstone wrapped in a hand-crafted sterling silver Celtic love knot 35.1 km (115,158 feet) above Earth's surface:
You can have it for $179.95. The students are selling these pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space. All sales support the Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray ballooning program and hands-on STEM research.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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